Cheltenham Tips: Timeform’s best Friday bets at the Showcase meeting including an 11/2 shot

Posted by Admin October 25, 2024 Horse Racing

Timeform’s Cheltenham Racing Tips

13:15 In The Air
13:50 Path Doroux
14:25 Calico
15:00 Gale Mahler
15:35 Ceanndana
16:10 Potters Charm
16:45 Fiercely Proud

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

IN THE AIR has revived in no uncertain terms since joining Nicky Henderson and having defied a penalty for a win at Southwell with more in hand than the bare margin would suggest at Exeter earlier in the month.

He is fancied to complete the hat trick. Support Act, the winner of a novice at Doncaster when last seen in February, and the unexposed Push The Button, a winner twice last autumn, are a pair of interesting handicap debutants who demand plenty of respect.

Irish stables account for four of the five declared runners in this novice chase, and with PATH DOROUX holding his form well back in the spring, this looks a good opening for Gavin Cromwell’s seven-year-old to open his account over the larger obstacles.

The main danger may emerge from San Salvador, who is progressive and arrives chasing a quick-fire hat-trick, while Shecouldbeanything, who is declared to run at Clonmel on Thursday, would be a leading player if lining up, too.

CALICO has dipped to 1lb lower than when second over course and distance on last year’s reappearance and might prove the answer to this useful handicap chase for Dan Skelton. Last year’s winner Dancing On My Own should give it another good shot from only 2lb higher and should appreciate less testing conditions than when successful at Ballinrobe last time, while Matata looks feasibly treated on the pick of last season’s novice form.

A fascinating renewal of this Grade 2 novice hurdle with the five who have run over hurdles yet to taste defeat in that discipline.

GALE MAHLER has carried all before her thus far and is impossible to side against in her bid to make it five out of five over hurdles on the back of an impressive listed win at the Galway Festival. Both Valgrand and Brave Knight should ensure Adrian Keatley’s likeable mare doesn’t have things all her own way.

CEANNDANA arrives on an upward curve for Ross O’Sullivan and made it three wins from his last four starts when successful over a much shorter trip at Sligo last time.

He probably has even more to offer, so he takes marginal preference over Jacks Parrot, who is also on the up but doesn’t have the benefit of a recent run. Course winner Are U Wise To That is better than a mark of 127 on his day and merits respect coming back fresh after winning first time out last season.

POTTERS CHARM represents the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard that’s in superb form, and he’s looked a fine prospect in both his starts under Rules, running out a stylish winner of a bumper at Ffos Las in the spring before outclassing his rivals on his hurdles debut at Worcester a month ago.

Sure to leave that bare form behind, he’ll take some stopping, for all Minella Sixo is promising in his own right. Of the rest, six-figure point recruit First Confession merits consideration.

An ultra-competitive finale. FIERCELY PROUD did well for Ben Pauling as a novice hurdler last season and ran creditably in a big-field handicap at Sandown on his final outing, especially considering he was left with a bit too much to do, so he’s an appealing candidate on this return to action with rider Callum Pritchard able to claim 10lb.

Jilaijone has been shown some leniency by the assessor and can go well on his reappearance, with hat-trick seeker Here Comes Georgie also of firm interest after a couple of wins at Perth.